Bonxie
A Great Skua was a surprise this morning, first seen over the seawall at the Top New Piece buzzing ducks before turning tail and heading out over the Dumbles to the river, making it as far up as Mid Point before turning again and flying downstream and eventually lost to view near Purton.
Afternoon update: Our Cranes have been showing very well today with several individuals on the Tack Piece from the Robbie Garnett Hide or Holden Tower. Waders numbers here also continued to increase with at least 105 Curlew present amongst the Redshank, Lapwing and Golden Plover late afternoon.
Rushy Hide
The current 46 Bewick's Swans were in for this morning's feed along with a smaller number of duck including 88 Pochard, 57 Pintail and 79 Shelduck.
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Holden Tower
The recent rain has put water into the Dumbles scrape with around 500 Teal and 30 Wigeon here this morning before returning to the Tack Piece. A Peregrine was sat out on the cross fence and the Great Black-backed Gull roost numbered 39 birds. A few Wigeon could be seen on the river on the falling tide. To the north of the Tack Piece were three Roe Deer in the Goose House Ground along with at least nine Curlew feeding in the sutbble. A single Crane was in the Ox Piece.
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Robbie Garnett Hide
Most of the Teal were at the far end of the scrape, with males busy displaying. The flock numbered at least 434 birds. Several hundred Lapwing were also on the field and Golden Plover numbers continue to rise through the morning. The peak count this week came on Tuesday with 1146 birds present. At least 12 Redshank were also feeding amongst the duck.
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South Lake Hides
Birds here included 181 Lapwing, 49 Shoveler, 55 Black-tailed Godwit, a single Grey Heron, three Pochard and the Great Crested Grebe.
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Zeiss Hide
Continuing to hold some of the best birding on the reserve totals this morning included 62 Snipe 42 Black-tailed Godwit, plus several Ruff, Dunlin, Redshank and Curlew. The flock of 57 White-fronted Geese were also seen.
